46/ NOVEMBER 2013 THE RIDER


horse for myself and my daughter. She’s a beautiful mover and so far, placed very suc- cessfully in hunter flat classes, when she’s “behaved”. My goal is to show over fences and my daughter wants to show her in some AQHA classes such as equitation patterns. The problem is she can be quirky – quick to anticipate, easily surprised by a sudden movement of my leg or hand, even spray bottles. I can’t leave her tied because she’s been known to pull back when surprised. She takes some time to settle in with lung- ing and riding before she feels relaxed enough for the class. My instructor says she’s the type that benefits from remaining in full time training.. Am I wasting my time?


Q. I have a Quarter Horse mare that I’ve bred and raised myself with the intent of finally owning a good show


A. Probably the main question you need to ask yourself is how much time ( or training


just decided to live with. I knew that tack- ling them head on would open up a “can of


money) you wish to devote to making your horse into a family horse. I’m big on being realistic about these things. We hope for the War Horse story of taming the volatile horse with relationship and perseverance. In reality, such a horse is the product of both nature and nurture and it takes a lot of work and skill to change that. Indeed, I’ve had several horses in my pro- gram that, despite talent, were extremely frustrating in their early competitive years, similar to the mare you’re describing. With an investment of many years and consistent training, they eventually desensitized to the situations that would formerly set them off. As mature horses, they are now successful, versatile competitors. I have had others with quirks that we


If you’re bent on investing in your mare, the process will involve habituating her to all her phobias and more. Habituation is systematically desensitizing a horse to a stimulus by introduc- ing it at a level that causes some stress but withdrawing it before it triggers her flight response. Let’s take a closer look at some of these words.


Paso Fino Breeders Dr. Oscar Dalmeo


Schomberg, Ontario Cell: 647-406-6168


www.santamariapasofino.com Paso Fino Association Tack & Leather Work


always start any cue at level one on a scale of one to ten. For example, I don’t come right at the ear with the clipper but start at the shoulder. I slide my leg back smoothly and slowly for a canter transition rather than alarming with a kick behind the girth. When the show arena is open for practice, I begin warm- ing up by tuning up the controls (lateral work, transitions, small circles etc) in the centre of the ring before venturing toward the rail, the grandstands, banners and traffic flow I use rhythm. Introducing


with jumping up and down beside the youngster while hold- ing the saddle repeatedly until he lowers his head and his ears relax. Western trainers use the term sacking out to describe exposure


a horse to a trail gate, I might simply stand beside it with my hand on it. Then I’ll open and close the gate by only six inches rhythmically beside my horse. I don’t change the rhythm until he is absolutely indifferent to it. The first mounting begins


SYSTEMATICALLY.


owner might decide he could still accomplish most of his goals working with a high main- tenance horse The process of habituation.


creating a new pathway in place of a well-trodden one. It’s hard work and things often get worse before they get better. A com- petitive rider might elect to go with the flow of a temperamen- tal but talented horse with com- promises such as: Avoiding tying up or crossties. Not jump- ing. Using scissors or tranquiliz- ers for clipping or mane pulling. Not showing in certain environ- ments (ie coliseums, wet foot- ing). Waiting to use the practice ring in the quiet, wee hours of the morning. Though inconvenient, the


worms” which the owner did not have the time, motivation or funds to deal with. Changing behavior is like


to something unfamiliar with a repetitive tempo.


WITHDRAW. As with all training, make sure you are the one making the decisions, not your horse. I withdraw the clip- pers before the horse decides to withdraw his head. Aim the jet of the hose first beside the horse, then away. Then just up to the point of hesi- tancy, perhaps his hoof, then away. Don’t let him initiate the step away. Doing this requires good timing and the ability to read a horse. In loading a hesitant horse


onto the trailer, I will decide to stop before he does. I may even back him up a few times before I ever ask him to put a foot in the trailer or on the ramp. I take my time.


I


FLIGHT. Horses, being prey rather than predators, have a flight response “I’m outta here!” You don’t want to trigger an adrenaline spike by moving up the scale too quickly. A prey animal rarely forgets something he learns through fleeing. If your horse flips his head out of your reach while you’re clipping him and finds there’s freedom there, he’s going to go there again. If he rears up and pulls away while you’re trying to load him, he’s likely to try it again. If she kicks out at your leg in a canter transi- tion and your leg comes off, she’s found her escape route. By rushing on the approach to a jump and away again on the landing side, a horse confirms that the jumping process is scary indeed. Every time we let horses


express their flight response by bucking on the lunge line, spooking to the centre of the arena or tetherballing around us to avoid the spray bottle, we confirm the fear rather than habituate them to it. Don’t ask for anything that


you may not be able to contain. Don’t let the horse’s legs flee. Try to minimize the escape dis- tance. This may involve sending the horse to “training camp” to a professional who specializes in breaking young horses thor- oughly. Using a system and enough


time, almost every horse will be able to get over the things that alarm them. Only you can answer the question – “Is it worth it?”


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